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      News

      Soldier Killed in Kenya

      Sunday morning an air strike in Manda Bay Airfield killed 3 Americans and wounded others. Henry “Mitch” Mayfield Jr was killed along with 2 defense contractors. 

      Mitch was only 23 years old and had just recently deployed. He talked with his parents last week over New Years and said he was safe-everything would be fine.  He joined the military In 2017 to help pay for college and he was studying business. 

      His parents are now picking up their son from Dover Air Force Base and will mourn their loss for the rest of their lives.  We will do our best to honor him and all those like him who pay the ultimate sacrifice and give their life for our country. He willingly chose to join our military and serve however he could no matter the outcome.  It is so easy for us to just go about our lives unaware of all those serving and sacrificing every single day!! When we hear about a soldier being killed it is such a tragic reminder of all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice throughout the years and those still bearing that burden for our country.

       

      Our thoughts and prayers are truly with all those deployed...and their families around the country who are always waiting for that next phone call and anxiously looking forward to their soldier coming home! Every time I wear my Military Loyaltee (the green line) or see Ryan wearing his or any of our shirts with the flag across the front I think about all those who have sacrificed and I feel honored to be able to do something show my support.  Every time we deliver a giveback shirt I am so grateful to take action on those feelings of appreciation.  I can give a token of our thanks to those who have served as a way to honor those who have fallen.  I realized the significance of this when we delivered on to a veteran who will wear his giveback shirt in honor of his fallen comrades.  

      Thank you for being here with us, for making a difference, and honoring those who serve!

      Live Loyal,

      Ryan and Amanda

      New Year...750 more soldiers Deployed

      Just this morning 750 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division deployed to Iraq while thousands more are on alert ready to deploy over the next few days.  

      We are all celebrating and they are headed to an area that has just been attacked, an area that is dangerous and unstable.  I can't imagine the thoughts that go through your mind.  They are trained and capable, but there is still uncertainty when you are headed somewhere with protests and unrest.  

      Earlier this year we were able to deliver giveback shirts to soldiers who were deploying and watching them leave their families is something that will stay with us forever. So many families are going the emotions of missing their soldier and obviously worry as well.  Their sacrifices do not go unnoticed.  We are so grateful for all of you who are starting this year waiting for your soldier to come home.  We are so grateful for those who stand at the ready to defend against anyone who threatens or harms our country.  

      This gratitude is why we do what we do.  It is the motivation behind every design, behind every giveback shirt sent out, behind everything we do.  We hope these soldiers and their families as well as all the soldiers around the world know they are appreciated.  We hope that when you wear SRVS gear or when you see it, you recognize it for the symbol of support that it is.   

      Live Loyal-

      Ryan and Amanda

      Sources:

      https://abc11.com/politics/fort-bragg-soldiers-deploy-after-protesters-storm-us-embassy/5803067/

      https://myfox8.com/2020/01/01/paratroopers-deploy-from-fort-bragg-after-recent-embassy-attack-in-baghdad/

       

      Officer Dies by Suicide

      Last week Officer Justin Carmen took his own life.  He was in his patrol car and a fellow officer found him.  He was only 29 and had been an officer since March 2018. Mobile Police Chief said Officer Carmen has "been an outstanding officer in the year and nine months that he served the Mobile Police Department. He’s carried out his patrol duties as professionally as he possibly can…He always had a smile on his face.”

      This is heartbreaking to lose a life...someone who signed up to serve and protect those around him.  We will never know what drove him to feel suicide was the only option, but we do know that countless officers struggle with PTSD from the things they see and experience on the job.  They go on calls that will never leave them, they see fellow officers die, they carry the stress of the job even when they are off shift yet sadly we hardly hear of groups formed to support them with their mental health.  Some resources are available to help, but there is so much stigma around seeking help that most officers just try to deal with it by themselves.  

      The Chief continued that his death is a tremendous loss to the department and  that more needs to be done to help remove the stigma first responders face when dealing with their own mental health and emotional struggles.

      People say "No one fights alone" but what are you actually doing to help in the fight?  We have to do a better job of letting them know we are there for them.  We can't solve all the problems, but just wearing your support, delivering a giveback shirt, or some verbal appreciation lifts the load they carry.  They realize they don't have to carry it alone.  Our goal with SRVS is that it is a visible symbol so any time they see someone wearing it they are reminded that people care.  

      So let's do more...together we truly can make a difference for those serving. 

      Thanks for being part of this with us! Live Loyal,

      Ryan and Amanda

      4 police officers have been killed this week all over the country!

      Shocked, Sad, Scared-all emotions that quickly went through our minds after hearing 2 officers were killed last Saturday night and that gut punch, heart sick feeling has continued throughout this week with 2 more officers being killed. 

      Every time we hear that awful news it reminds us that another family will forever be changed...another department lost an officer...a city lost a protector.  It is inspiring to see the outreach after a police officer is killed in the line of duty, but it all boils down to the individuals and their willingness to sacrifice.   

       Officer Brewster

      Around 5:45 last Saturday Officer Christoper Brewster (above) responded to a domestic disturbance call in east Houston. A lady called because her boyfriend was assaulting her and he had weapons. A few minutes later Officer Brewster arrived and was fired upon as he exited his vehicle! He was hit multiple times and still drew his weapon and radioed in a description of the suspect to other officers. He showed up to help someone...got out of his car without his gun drawn likely hoping to diffuse the situation and because someone with a long criminal history didn’t want to be arrested he was shot and killed. His wife, parents, and sister will now be forever changed. Officer Brewster signed up to serve and protect the citizens of Houston and gave his life.

      A few hours later in Arkansas a Fayetteville PD Officer - Officer Stephen Carr-was waiting in his patrol car for his partner and was shot execution style! The shooter had waited in an alley to kill this officer who, like Officer Brewster, had signed on for a life of service and sacrifice and paid dearly. The shooter was killed as other officers responded, chased down the suspect and engaged. This all happened right next to the city’s packed Christmas light event.  People thought the shooter was at the event and were hiding in restaurants or running away, but it was right next door. The most amazing thing is that no matter who is in danger first responders would have come...running toward the active shooter while the rest of us try to get away. 

      That scenario is exactly was happened on Tuesday night.  Shooters opened fire on a Jewish deli.   Officers who were stationed only a block away responded immediately...heroically putting themselves in danger.  These two officers were both shot-one fatally-and two other officers were also shot throughout the incident.  Tuesday morning Detective Joe Seals said goodbye to his wife and 5 kids like all officers do at the beginning of a shift...expecting to come home at the end, but tragically he won't be coming home.  This decorated officer had removed hundreds of illegal guns from the streets, climbed through a fire escape to stop a sexual assault on a 41 year old woman and countless other acts of heroism serving the people of Jersey City.  His mom said he wanted to be a cop since he was young.  She said "He followed his dreams. He wanted to be a police officer. It was all he's ever wanted to do and he accomplished it.  Everyone loved him. He was a fair cop. He helped people."  But even more than a loved cop, he was a beloved husband and father...who did everything with his 5 kids.  Our hearts break for every family who has to go through what they are going through.  His kids now have to grow up without him.  

      The sadness of this week doesn't end there...and officers didn't stop doing their jobs because their comrades had been killed in the line of duty.  Thursday night in Nassau Bay Texas officers at a traffic stop were arresting a man on a warrant for assaulting a family member.  The man fought the officers to get away, got back in his car and hit and killed veteran police officer Kaila Sullivan while he drove away.  She was celebrating 16 years as an officer with the small department this month and is remembered for being a natural leader, a wonderful mother to her son, and someone who will be sorely missed every day.  She'd conducted countless traffic stops, but every single call and every single stop is dangerous and could take a life.  

      This week has shown that no matter where you live-big city or small town officers are putting their lives at risk to protect each of us.  We are so grateful-beyond what we can express-for those who literally put their lives on the line wearing the uniform. We will do whatever we can to let them know we see them and we appreciate them.  We see your families who can never fully relax while their Officer is on shift. We see you giving your best efforts despite the lack of support. We see the struggles you face because of calls you’ve responded to.   We will keep wearing our gear and delivering giveback shirts because that is what we can do and we will keep sharing your stories to remind others of the sacrifices being made every single day to keep our cities safe.

      3 Navy Sailors Killed stopping Gunman

      Friday morning became a tragedy as a gunman (a foreign student from Saudi Arabia) at Pensacola NAS opened fire.  3 Navy Sailors were killed when they ran toward the gunman instead of running away.  They sacrificed their lives to stop him from hurting more people...the definition of a hero.  We want to make sure their memory and sacrifice live on-who were they?

      Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson

      Ensign Watson grew up in Alabama and after getting hurt playing football decided to join the rifle team.  He attended the US Naval Academy and was a 4 year member of the rifle team...he graduated last Spring and was excited to start flight training at Pensacola and become a pilot.  His brother Adam shared "My youngest brother gave his life for his country in a senseless shooting. We are beyond proud, but there is a (hole) in our hearts that can never be filled"

      Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham wanted to join the navy even though he excelled at basketball and running...his father thought he'd even play professionally.  He was only 19 years old and was an exceptional kid.  He will be missed by many!  

      Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters had only been at Pensacola NAS for 12 days! He enlisted in September and reported for duty as a student November 24.  He grew up in a small town south of Savannah Georgia and the city's Facebook page posted "We ask our community to come together for Cameron's family, to mourn and remember him, and to pay tribute to his sacrifice. We will forever be grateful for his courage and heroism"

      These sailors were on American soil! Their families likely thought they were totally safe...in a classroom setting.  They weren't on a deployment, they were training -  but when the threat came they ran towards it instead of away.  Their families and communities will forever miss them! We are grateful for their sacrifices and grateful for the willingness and mindset of so many who serve...who do anything they can to save those around them!